With approximately 153,000 residents, Springfield is the largest city in western Massachusetts and the cultural, economic and urban center of the Pioneer Valley. It is the third largest city in Massachusetts and the fourth largest city in New England. Springfield is situated midway between New York City, Montreal and Boston, making it a hub for economic exchange and travel.

Springfield was founded in 1636 by settlers who were drawn to the area’s fertile soil and proximity to what would later be known as the Connecticut River. In fact, the capital of Connecticut, namely the City of Hartford, is located approximately 24 miles south of Springfield. The Hartford-Springfield region is often called the Knowledge Corridor, due to the fact that it contains more than 32 colleges and universities, including Springfield College, American International College, Western New England University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst's School of Urban Design and the Tufts University School of Medicine. These institutions of higher education provide substantial intellectual capital that fuels the innovation for which Springfield is famous.

Springfield has many nicknames including “The City of Homes,” which alludes to the city’s beautiful Victorian architecture. It is also known as “The City of Firsts” and “The Birthplace of Basketball” due to the many innovations, including basketball, which have originated in Springfield. The city also produced the first American-English dictionary, the first use of the assembly line and interchangeable parts in manufacturing, the first car run on gasoline, and the first commercial radio station in America.